The sit-at-home protest ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the defunct Biafra nation recorded significant compliance in Yenagoa on Tuesday.

Most shops, road-side restaurants and businesses in the Bayelsa State capital operated by Igbos did not open for business.

Those who operate commercial taxis and tricycles popularly called ‘Keke NAPEP’ stayed away from their routes.

The ever-busy Mbiama-Yenagoa Road and the Isaac Boro Expressway were largely empty with very few vehicles and tricycles plying.

The popular ‘Mechanic Village’ in Etegwe suburb of Yenagoa dominated by Igbo artisans was under lock and key when our correspondent visited.

Also, major supermarkets as well as stalls owned by Igbos were completely shut in compliance with the order.

Security patrol vans manned by riot policemen were seen at strategic junctions ostensibly to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

However, a few Igbo traders carried out businesses in partial compliance.

When contacted, Asinim Butswat, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Command, said that anti-riot policemen stationed at flash-points within Yenagoa were there to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

“We deployed policemen from anti-riot unit and other squads to strategic locations in Yenagoa to prevent the breakdown of law and order,” he said.

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